HMC Projects

HMC PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE - A REGISTERED CHARITY AND COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

HMC Projects in Central and Eastern Europe Limited is a company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 23 September 1998. It is a registered charity, number 1074491. The company was established to take over the activities of the HMC Foreign Students Fund, a charitable trust, and the assets and liabilities of that Trust were transferred to the company on 30 April 1999 by way of a donation.

TRUSTEES

• N.J. England Chairman
• R.A. Schlich Secretary
• R.J. Fox
• D.N. Morrison
• I.G. Power
• I.M. Small
• T.H.P. Haynes

PATRONS

• Sir Michael Burton KCVO, CMG, former Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Chairman of the British Czech and Slovak Association
• Mr Charles de Chassiron CVO, former Ambassador to Estonia
• Mr Martin Davidson CMG, Chief Executive of the British Council
• Mr Muzaffar Khan, Principal and Board Member of Space Energy
• Peter Kyle OBE, Director-General of the English Speaking Union
• Mr David Lyscom, former Ambassador to Slovakia and former Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council
• The Rt Hon Dr Denis MacShane MP, former Minister of State for Europe and Deputy Foreign Minister
• Professor Sir Curtis Price KBE, Warden of New College, Oxford

OFFICERS

• P.F.J. Tobin (Administrator of the Scholarship Scheme)
• P.M. de Voil(Administrator of the Work Experience Scheme for Teachers)
• Mr Tony Lawrence Student Counsellor
• Miss Anda Bularga (Assistant Administrator)
• Mr Peter Kyle OBE, Director-General of the English-Speaking Union

REVIEW OF THE TRUST'S ACTIVITIES

The Students' Scheme

58 boys and girls joined 44 UK schools in September 2011. During the past four years a total of 236 scholarships have been awarded, generosity indeed but also an eloquent expression of the perceived value brought to the hosting schools by their HMC Projects scholars.

HMC Projects scholars adapt remarkably to the new opportunities on offer. For instance a Moldovan girl who had done no practical science whatsoever before coming to the UK in 2008, received a year later the prize for the best Advanced Higher Chemistry practical in Scotland.

The questionnaires completed by the scholars of 2009 and 2010 brought home the extent to which their HMC Projects scholarships had provided life-changing opportunities to young people who might have dreamed of the possibility of education in a fine UK Independent school but who could not possibly have afforded it without the very great generosity of their schools. Public benefit indeed!!

The Teachers' Work Experience Scheme

The teachers who came to the UK in 2010 were all successful. Between them they cover a good range of subjects -, Science, Music, French, Art and more, with two gaining experience in junior departments. There is no doubt that these teachers gained greatly from the year in Britain but they also contributed significantly to the life of their schools.

A very important development for the Teacher scheme has been the establishment of HMC Projects as a licensing authority approved by UKBA. HMC Projects is now competent to issue sponsor licences to bring teachers to the UK through the scheme from countries outside the EEA.

In September 2010 Mr Peter de Voil became Administrator of the HMC Projects Teacher Work Experience scheme, replacing Mr Roger Wicks who had run the scheme since its inception.